The Battle of Jersey: A Contemporary Account

The Battle of Jersey: A Contemporary Account

The Psalmist declared, " All men are liars," and, though he said this " in haste," historians sometimes suspect that his remark was true. We have for example a contemporary account of the Battle of Jersey, written by a Commanding Officer, who took part in the action, published almost immediately after the Battle.

Most historians would regard this as a valuable find. Captain Williams was in command of the Invalides in Elizabeth Castle. a Company of old veterans, who formed part of the regular garrison, and he marched his men out to join Major Peirson on Gallows’ Hill. And he wrote

“I have scarce time. my dear Sir, to inform you of the glorious actions of a few British lads against 2,400 of the best troops of France. Our Lieutenant-Governor's letter will inform you more circumstantially than I can, as he receives reports from the whole, but by commanding the 5th and 6th Companies of Invalides, stationed upon Knott's Mount, Gallows Hill, I can give you an account of their conduct.”

“Perceiving the Enemy advancing to us, I formed two deep, to have a greater length of fire, and placed my two three-pounders one on each flank, and made a regular advance upon the charge upon them ; they halted and gave us their fire, which we returned very severely, and, after standing to it 18 or 20 minutes, the ragamuffins gave way; and upon the approach of about 200 Regulars and Militia ordered to my assistance, they threw down their arms and craved mercy. I received them as Prisoners of War, until the Governor's pleasure is known.”

"Had they stood a quarter of an hour longer, I believe very few would have been left to have related to their Grand Monarch how a few old English Invalides conquered the Flower of the French Army.

Of the Enemy's five Companies, which we engaged and defeated : 2 Captains, 1 Lieutenant, 5 Sergeants, 4 Corporals, 2 Drummers and 48 Privates, killed.”

“All the remaining Officers, Commissioned and Non-Commissioned, and about 238 Privates, laid down their arms, and surrendered prisoners at discretion. In the whole, I am informed that nearly 300 are killed, and about 40 driven into the sea, by the Grenadiers of the Regulars, and drowned; between three and four hundred wounded ; and between eleven and twelve hundred taken Prisoners.''

To this we need only add three observations:

(1) Rullecourt's men, so far from being "the Flower of the French Army " were a scratch collection of scallywags specially recruited for the purpose, hundreds of `those being convicts released from chain-gangs on condition that they joined the expedition.

(2) He only landed 1,400 men at La Rocque, and left some to guard his boats. Only 700 marched to St Helier. So it is odd, if his casualties amounted to over 1,200, and in addition he lost " between eleven to twelve hundred " prisoners.

(3) Moreover, though the British troops mustered on Gallows’ Hill, not a shot was fired till they reached the Square, where the enemy awaited their attack. The Battle of Knott's Mount was fought entirely in Captain Williams' imagination.

Moral:-When you describe what happened during the a battle, don't let your imagination run away with you.